News
Bae-Jump’s new research explores the origins of racial disparities in endometrial cancer
Victoria Bae-Jump, MD, PhD, was recently awarded grant funding totaling more than $800,000 to further her research on the underlying biological factors that may influence the development and mortality of endometrial cancer in both Caucasian and African-American women.
Arrival of Three Mannequins Will Increase High-Fidelity Patient Simulations
The School of Medicine’s Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center has three new mannequins to facilitate simulations for students. This is the first purchase of a mannequin in nearly a decade and provides a new educational tool that reinforces UNC’s standard of safety.
Melanoma survivors share stories of recovery amid treatment advances
The seminar “Understanding Melanoma: From Prevention to Treatment" was hosted by the UNC Lineberger and the Melanoma Research Foundation on May 14 for patients and caregivers at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education in Chapel Hill. Physicians, researchers, patients and staff spoke about advances in treatment and care for melanoma, research and prevention, as well as best practices to address the psychosocial aspects of care.
Remembering Stuart Bondurant, Dean Emeritus of the UNC School of Medicine
This past weekend, the UNC School of Medicine lost one of its great leaders, Stuart Bondurant, MD, who passed away at the age of 88. He served as dean for 15 years and interim dean for two more years.
UNC Lineberger researchers show how viral protein helps drive cancer
UNC Lineberger researchers led by Blossom Damania, PhD, and Penny Anders, PhD, published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that explains how the viral protein vPK helps drive abnormal growth of immune cells called B cells. Their findings identify vPK as a potential druggable target to block or treat cancer in people infected with the virus.
By forming clots in tumors, immune cells aid lung cancer's spread
Researchers led by UNC Lineberger's Chad Pecot, MD, report in the journal Nature Communications that for a particular subset of lung cancer tumors, there is a high prevalence of immune cells called inflammatory monocytes. These cells, which normally help to build clotting scaffolds to promote wound healing, also make it possible for tumor cells to migrate and spread to other parts of the body.
Former Navy Seal Robert Adams, MD, featured on podcast
Former Navy SEAL Robert Adams, MD, of the UNC Physicians Network, was featured on the Peer Spectrum Podcast to discuss his book "Six Days of the Impossible," a medical look at Navy SEAL hell week.
Ernest Grant named one of '50 great African American leaders in healthcare to know'
Dr. Grant has more than 30 years of nurse leadership experience and currently serves as the vice president of the American Nurses Association. He is also the burn outreach coordinator for the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals.
New Tech May Make Prosthetic Hands Easier for Patients to Use
The work was led by researchers in the joint biomedical engineering program at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Scientists identify brain cell types underlying schizophrenia
Karolinska Institutet and UNC School of Medicine researchers, including Patrick Sullivan, PhD, have identified four specific types of brain cells associated with schizophrenia. The findings offer a roadmap for the development of new therapies to target the condition.
Biotin supplements caused misleading test results, almost led to unnecessary procedure
A new case report led by UNC's Maya Styner, MD, describes how a patient's use of a common over-the-counter biotin supplement caused clinically misleading test results and almost resulted in an unnecessary, invasive medical procedure.
Roth, Johnson awarded $28 million for Illuminating Druggable Genome NIH grants
Of the three principal investigators awarded these prestigious NIH grants, two are researchers in the UNC Department of Pharmacology at the UNC School of Medicine – Byran L. Roth and Gary Johnson.
The Heart of a Researcher
At the UNC School of Medicine, researchers come to their work through various paths. For Wanda O'Neal, PhD, her tireless dedication to researching cystic fibrosis and lung conditions was born from a very personal place -- a family with six kids with CF.
UNC School of Medicine celebrates the Class of 2018
On Saturday, May 12, the UNC School of Medicine held its commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2018. Students gathered with faculty, friends, and family in Memorial Hall to celebrate their accomplishments. The class selected Alice Ma, MD, as its commencement speaker.
Damania earns Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring
Blossom Damania, PhD, vice dean for research at the UNC School of Medicine, was honored with the award at the UNC-Chapel Hill doctoral hooding ceremony May 12.
Newton Transitioning to ABFM, FitzGerald Named Interim NC AHEC Program Director
Kevin FitzGerald, who has served in several senior leadership roles at UNC Health Care and the University of North Carolina, has been named Interim Program Director of the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (AHEC).
UNC researchers discover how body temperature wrecks potential dengue, Zika vaccine
The UNC School of Medicine labs of Brian Kuhlman, PhD, and Aravinda de Silva, PhD, found that key components of a potentially potent vaccine fall apart due to body temperature, leaving us susceptible to severe infection.
UNC’s Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery upends the residency interview process
In research recently published in The Laryngoscope, the department details results from two years of adding surgical simulation to residency interviews.
Taking the Long Road
Patrick Lang, PhD, has compiled scholastic achievements – including a Core Fulbright U.S. award– while never losing sight of his family’s roots in rural China.
UNC’s Olafur Palsson featured in national media
Olafur Palsson, professor of medicine, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal and at tonic.com for his work on hypnosis to treat IBS.